Red Wings center Jacob de la Rose skates out with the puck in the first period as he is pursued by Maple Leafs center Frederik Gauthier on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Toronto. Tom Szczerbowski USA TODAY Sports

Gustav Nyqvist #14 of the Detroit Red Wings skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. Claus Andersen, Getty Images

Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings fires a shot against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. Claus Andersen, Getty Images

Luke Glendening #41 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. Claus Andersen, Getty Images

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) slides into the corner boards as he is taken down by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek (17) in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. Tom Szczerbowski, USA TODAY Sport

TORONTO — The Detroit Red Wings showed how well they can play, charging into their opponents zone and building a lead on the strength of rookies.

They took on one of the NHL’s best teams Sunday at Scotiabank Arena and delivered their best start in weeks. The Maple Leafs struck back – they have one of the top offenses in the NHL – and the Wings had to settle for a 5-4 loss in overtime.

Dylan Larkin extended his point streak to 11 games by drawing an assist on what was Michael Rasmussen’s first goal in 17 games. Fellow rookies Filip Hronek and Christoffer Ehn also contributed goals. Veteran Frans Nielsen restored the Wings’ lead in the third period when he scored on a rebound.

The Wings were 7.6 seconds from a regulation victory when John Tavares tipped Jake Gardiner’s shot. Bernier got a piece of Kasperi Kapanen’s shot but the puck trickled through and across the goal line in overtime.

Starting well

It wasn’t a very auspicious start when the Wings fell behind 27 seconds into the game after Kapanen scored from right outside the crease. But the response was promising, as the Wings stormed into the Leafs’ zone and stayed there, peppering Garret Sparks with shots. Hronek directed the puck at Toronto’s net and was rewarded with a goal when the puck bounced in off Toronto players.

The Wings had good pressure on their first power play, but less so during a 3:31 minute stretch that included 29 seconds with a two-man advantage. Back at even strength the Wings continued to rush into Toronto’s zone. They made it 2-1 with 42 seconds to play in the period when Dylan Larkin’s shot hit Rasmussen and bounced into the net. The Wings outshot the Leafs, 13-3, in the first period.

Lead leveled

Expectedly, the Leafs came out with better jump in the second period, but the Wings pushed back around the midpoint, using their speed to get into the offensive zone and threatening down low. Ehn made it 3-1 at 9:53 when he scored off the rush, netting his first goal on a backhand shot even as he fought off a defender.

That lead didn’t last long. Par Lindholm popped the puck out front from behind the net and Frederik Gauthier connected to make it 3-2. Morgan Rielly scored on an odd-man rush at the 14-minute mark to tie the score.

Red Wings center Michael Rasmussen is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal in the first period on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Toronto.(Photo: Tom Szczerbowski USA TODAY Sports)

About that assist

When Thomas Vanek scored Saturday against Florida, Larkin was given an assist. Then the NHL’s scoring officials took it away. Only to give it back – and then take it away again. That was while the game was still going on. When it ended, Larkin was not on the scoresheet, seemingly ending his point streak at nine games. But Sunday afternoon, after more reviewing, Larkin was credited with an assist, extending his streak to 10 games (five goals, eight assists).

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.